Saratoga Reads to Offer Special Day at Borders and Events for Young Readers
Saratoga Reads will launch its February programming with a special sales event at Borders Books and Music on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs and will offer three programs for young readers through mid-month. All events are open to the public free of charge.
An all-day Borders benefit for Saratoga Reads will take place on Saturday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Shoppers who use a special coupon will save 10 percent on their entire purchase, and in addition, Borders will donate 10 percent of all coupon sales to Saratoga Reads in support of the organization’s public programming.
“This is a great opportunity for readers to stock up on books, save money, and support Saratoga Reads,” said Tabitha Orthwein, chair of the board of Saratoga Reads. “Of course, we hope shoppers will pick up this year’s Saratoga Reads book of choice, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, or any of our suggested companion books for young readers.”
This year’s selected book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, is a fictional story told through a series of letters. The book depicts the life of a group of neighbors on the English Channel island of Guernsey during World War II, when the island was occupied by Nazi Germany. To get young readers involved, Saratoga Reads has announced a list of some 60 junior companion books that touch upon key themes found in Guernsey.
The events for young people will begin with the third annual “Peds Reads Story Time,” on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m., at Barnes & Noble, Route 50, Wilton. Popular local pediatrician Emanuel Cirenza will read from a selection of this year’s junior companion books that are recommended for toddlers and preschool-age children.
The events will continue with a junior discussion group on Thursday, Feb. 11, 6:30 to 8 p.m., in the Community Room at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. Designed for students in grades 4-6, the discussion will focus on the book Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, which tells the story of ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen, whose Danish family tries to save a young Jewish friend during the Nazi invasion of the country. The program will be led by Catherine Golden, professor of English at Skidmore College, along with student mentors from Skidmore and Saratoga Springs High School. Part two of the junior discussion will take place on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 25. Young readers interested in participating should register by emailing kids@saratogareads.org.
Families looking for an engaging activity during the school winter break will want to check out the Saratoga Reads hands-on art program scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 16, 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College. Children ages 5 and up and their adult companions will read from the book Miss Rumphius, which tells the story of a woman who tries to add beauty to the world by planting colorful lupines of blue, purple, and pink. Participants will discuss the themes of the book and make their own lupine plants with art materials. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the Tang Museum at 518-580-8080.